My Life as a Post-Adolescent Pony

by Unicorncob

16 - Play Ball

That was a surprisingly comfy couch. Easily in my top five.

Rivershine's folks lived in a spacious-enough apartment near Kindheart Park, so I was grateful to get warm sooner rather than later. Lakesong even gave me a spare blanket, bless her. The least I could do was refrain from drooling on the cushion in my sleep.

I spent a considerable chunk of the next morning washing off the curly moustache and large glasses somepony drew on my face with marker. Pudding Pop was my prime suspect in that regard, but given the smirks he shared with his sister, I couldn't help but think River wasn't above doing the dirty deed herself.

The five of us were soon sat at the table, digging into breakfast. Can't go wrong with toast, hash browns and scrambled egg.

"You comin' up for air?" asked Hard Dough, watching his son inhale his breakfast.
"Shorry," he mumbled through stuffed cheeks, before swallowing. "I'm meeting the guys at the field, so I gotta be fast."
"You're gonna be sick if you keep that up," Dough remarked. "And besides, we got a guest."
"Oh, he's not bothering me," I assured him. If anything, I was enjoying the breakfast time entertainment.
"I suppose you two are heading back to Ponyville today?" asked Lakesong.
"We'd better," said Rivershine. "I gotta clean the place up for you guys coming over."
"And I gotta, well, do holiday things," I said, shrugging. "Wrap presents and stuff, y'know?"
"Do you have to go right now, sis?" asked Pudding. "I thought maybe you could show my friends that trick."
"What trick?" asked River. "I know a few of those."
"The buckball one. Y'know, with the bucket?"
"Oh, that one. Well, I suppose I can always catch the afternoon train."
Pudding cheered and turned to look at me. Then his eyes lit up like a switch flicked in his brain. "Wait a sec--we've got a whole team here!"
I tilted my head. "A what-now?"
"Pegasus, Unicorn, Earth Pony," he said, pointing to himself, River and me in that order. "We could totally go up against the guys!"
"Hey, there's an idea," River agreed. "We can show your friends a thing or two."

My eyes darted between the two siblings until I realised I was being drafted into what sounded like a team sport. The one thing worse than the military.

"We?" I repeated.
"Do you play buckball, Sharp?" asked Pudding.
"Um, not really." I didn't even know what buckball was.
"C'mon, it'll be fun," River insisted, looking right in my eyes. "I'll show you the ropes.
"Um, sure, sounds fun," I blurted out. The complete opposite of what I wanted to say. What kind of Unicorn spell did she put on me?
"Sweet!" Pudding hopped off his chair and swooped toward the front door. "C'mon!"
"Wait just a sec, young stallion," said Hard Dough. "You forgettin' somethin'?"
"Oh, uh, I'll be back before dark."
"The other somethin'." The patriarch of the apartment nodded toward the empty plate his son left behind.
"Oh." He frowned and hovered back over.

River and I suppressed our smirks as we cleaned our own plates afterward, then we walked into the hallway, River's parents staying behind the doorway.

"Thanks a lot for taking me in last night," I said. "I'd have probably frozen otherwise."
"Now don't you be a stranger, Sharp," said Lakesong, putting a front leg around me in a hug. "If you find yourself stranded in Bronclyn, look us up."
"As long as you keep doing our girl right," added Hard Dough with a glint. "Keep an eye on this boy, honey."
"Oh, he'd be in the river without me," giggled Rivershine. Said glint kept my snarky remark inside my brain where it belonged. "I'll see you in a couple of weeks?"
"Count on it," said her mom as they hugged.

As River and I followed Pudding down the hall, I couldn't help but think what a nice family River had. And then I thought of my own parents back in the human world.

I should ask Twilight if I can call them somehow.

---

I was grateful for whatever kind of strange magic my yak hair-lined hoodie was endowed with, because it was particularly nippy that morning. The snow was mostly ploughed away, but streaks of it remained on the sides of the road and sidewalk.

"Is this really the best weather for outdoor sports?" I asked. "Or sports in general?"
"It'll warm you up no problem," said Rivershine. "Why, not a sporty Pony?"
"Not really, no," I admitted.
"Well, it'll still be fun," she insisted. "Don't worry, it's really simple."
"As long as there's no gym teacher yelling at me." That got a giggle out of her. I decided to let her keep thinking that was a joke.

Luckily, the buckball field was just around the corner. A space was designated for a large rectangle of artificial grass with lines marked on it, divided from the street by chain link fences. Ponies, changelings, griffins and other creatures were tossing rubber balls around in small groups, seemingly trying to get them into a basket held by one of the players.

"Glad to see it's an integrated sport, at least," I noted.
"Oh yeah, nopony was against other creatures getting in on it when they started showing interest," said River. "Apparently the EBL had to change a few rules around because of it, though?"
"EBL?" I repeated.
"Equus Buckball League," Pudding groaned in front of us. "What rock are you living under?"
"You leave my rock out of this."

We eventually came to the gate, where some kids were tossing a ball around nearby. An Earth Pony, a hippogriff and a kirin. All three looked happy to see Pudding as we approached.

"Hey, guys," he greeted them.
"Hey, dude," said the Earther.
"Yo, Pop Rocks," the hippogriff chirped.
"Hiya," the kirin added, then looked up at us. "Hi, Rivershine."
"Sup, squirts," she said.
"My sis said she's gonna show us some moves before she heads back to Ponyville," Pudding grinned, then added with considerably less enthusiasm, "Oh, and she brought her coltfriend with her."
"Ooooooooh!" the kids chorused.
"He's not my coltfriend," River noted. I didn't want to think that flush on her cheeks was from the cold.
"Yeah, we're just friends," I added. "I just happen to be a colt--er, stallion."
"Whatever you say, lovebirds," the kirin snickered into her hoof. "So, we gonna learn some new tricks? We need to beat Canterlot Elementary next semester if we want the cup this season."
"My sis is a buckball legend," Pudding boasted. "Best goalkeeper in Cadenza High. She's got the trophies to prove it."
"That's enough outta you," River butted in, ruffling his mane. "I've been officially out of the game for a while, but I still know a few things."
"Hey, you've got a full team there," the Earther pointed out. "C'mon, Pop Rocks, we'll play you, your sis and what's-his-face."
"Sharp Sight," I said. "Hi, by the way."
"Hi, I'm Pebble," he replied, then pointed to the hippogriff and kirin respectively. "This is Brookwind and Lavender."

I then noticed the look Pudding was giving me. A mixture of reluctance and annoyance.

"I dunno, Pebble," he muttered. "I don't think he knows a buckball from a cheese ball."
I frowned. It didn't matter how true that was, I didn't appreciate being emasculated by children.
"He's new to the game, is all," River said, coming to my defence. "I thought you upcoming pros could help me show him a thing or two."
"We get to be the teachers?" gasped Brookwind. "I'm in!"
"The more buckball players, the better," Lavender agreed.
"C'mon, Pop," Pebble insisted. "He doesn't look like he'd be that bad."
Pudding looked to his sister for help, but was met with that stern raise of the eyebrow only reserved for unruly youths in the family. "Yeah, sure. Three on three."

Pebble, Brookwind and Lavender prepared themselves on the far side of the field while Pudding, River and I took the one closest to the door. The better for me to escape faster when this was over.

"Don't embarrass me," the colt growled up at me.
"I'll try not to," I said. "By the way... Pop Rocks?"
His cheeks puffed out. "It's my nickname! So what?"
"What's wrong with Pudding Pop?" I asked. The corners of my mouth quivered when I heard the three kids snickering nearby. "Ah, I see."
Pudding grumbled and dragged his hoof on the fake grass like the cutest, maddest bull. "Just... just don't be lame."
"Now that I certainly can't promise."
"You'll be fine," River assured me. "I'll talk you through it as we go."

When we got underway, it turned out the rules themselves were quite simple. Rivershine stood behind Pebble and Brookwind, Lavender behind me and Pudding. Both of them held a basket in their magical grips. My job was to get the ball into River's basket, and Pudding's was to stop it from getting into Lavender's.

While the rules were easy enough, it turned out there were a lot of intricacies I wasn't prepared for.

"Why're you using your front legs?" asked Pebble. "You know how to buck, right?"

"C'mon, Sharp!" whined Pudding some minutes later. "I passed it right to ya!"

"You're trying to get the ball into the basket," River called when I tried to make a goal. "Not the sun."

Needless to say, I wasn't impressing anypony. River was picking up the slack in that regard, showing off some impressing ball-catching moves. One involved giving the basket a swift kick upward to give it an extra push. Even some onlookers were watching her in awe.

While the kids gushed over it, my brain started going to work. I started visualising dotted lines and mathematical equations as I looked around the field. I didn't know what the equations were for, I just saw them in a lot of detective movies and figured they were a requirement.

But nonetheless, I had an idea. If I couldn't win for my team, I could at least attempt to look cool.

"Please try to do something with this," sighed Pudding, giving the ball a half-hearted toss in my direction.

I swung my body around and aimed my hind hoof toward the fence. With one swift buck, the ball shot toward it, bouncing off and speeding toward River, who just barely caught it in her basket.

"Whoa!" gasped Pebble. "I never would've thought of that!"
"Is that allowed?" asked Lavender. "That can't be allowed."
"It didn't leave the field," called River from the other side. "Perfectly legal."
"How'd you do that?" asked Brookwind?
"Oh, just a bit of geometry," I said, shrugging. "I dunno if it'll work without a fence but, y'know."
"Maybe with a strong enough buck..." Pebble murmured, rubbing his chin.

I looked at Pudding, who crossed his front legs as he hovered in the air.
"Okay, you did something cool, I guess," he admitted reluctantly. "Wish you'd done it sooner, instead of waitin' till we were four goals behind."
"Easy there, Rainbow Dash," snarked his sister. "This is just a friendly, remember?"
"I just don't wanna lose to Wind Sprint again this season," Pudding huffed.
I blinked. "Who's this now?"
"She's the defender for the Fillydelphia Elementary team," Brookwind explained. "She's really good."
"Pop likes her," teased Pebble.
"I do not!" squeaked Pudding. "Why would I like somepony who keeps beating me?!"
"You didn't block her triple-tornado toss in the last game," noted Lavender. "You just kept staring at her."
The poor guy's cheeks flushed bright red. "Sh-shut up!"

River and I could only watch as Lavender held Pudding back with her magic and Brookwind tried to stop Pebble from singing Pudding and Wind Sprint Sitting in a Tree.

"Looks like the game's over," I muttered to her.
"Yup," River agreed. "But hey, you impressed them. At least a bit."
"Not as much as you."
She smirked. "Yeah, but still. Anywho, we should probably head for the station. The next train to Ponyville's in an hour."
"You wanna grab your brother?"
"He's fine," she said, before walking over and raising her voice. "Hey kids, we gotta get going. Take care of that doofus for me."
"Those were some awesome moves!" Lavender grinned. "I'll remember them."
"You'd better," smirked River. Her horn glowed and Pudding found himself being floated toward her, and she wrapped a front leg around him in a hug. "I'll see you in a week or so, Mr. Grumpypants."
"Yeah, see ya, sis," Pudding grumbled.
"I'll see you around?" I tried.
"Buh," he grunted.

---

An hour later, Rivershine and I had boarded the train headed back to Ponyville. It was only just past noon, but it already felt like a whole day had gone by.

"So," River said, snapping me out of my daydreaming out the window. "Your first buckball game. What'd you think?"
"I'm definitely not going pro any time soon," I said flatly. "Though, you seem to be good at it."
"Pudding wasn't lying when he said I was on a champion team in high school," she said, shrugging. "But it's just a hobby for me."
I blinked as something came to me. "Y'know, you never told me what you do for a living."
"Oh, same as you," she said, shrugging. "Odd jobs, mostly."
"See, that's just a temporary thing for me," I said. "You must be doing well for yourself, with how nice your house is."
"Nice of you to say," she grinned. "But you've seen how generous folks in Ponyville are. That's all it is."

She's definitely hiding something, but I don't think I'll get it out of her now.

I dropped the subject and the two of us just made small talk until the train finally pulled into Ponyville. We exited the warm train into the cold air, and I noticed Rivershine's fur bristle as she shivered.

"You wanna borrow my hoodie?" I offered without thinking.
"I'm good, thanks," she said. "Good of you to show some chivalry, though."
"Hearth's Warming's all about keeping the old traditions alive," I said.

We walked through the square, and it was easy to see Ponyville was in the holiday spirit. A large tree was put up in the courtyard, with streamers and garlands strewn all over the lamp posts. Kids dragged their parents to different shops, adults dragged their families to others, and Pinkie Pie was shooting cookies shaped like trees and snowponies out of her cannon so I just barely avoided being assaulted by icing sugar. Rivershine managed to catch two in her magic out of the air, giving me one.

That's a lot of sugar.

It was when we passed Carousel Boutique when Rivershine halted mid-step. She was staring in the display window, looking like she was watching something very disturbingly illegal going on in there. Like Rarity putting on mane extensions.

Luckily, it was just an item on display she was gawking at. A leather jacket, purple with some blue and black streaks. Metal studs shined along the sleeves, lapel and popped collar.

"Sweet Celestia," she breathed. "Sharp, do you know what that is?!"
I cocked an eyebrow. "A jacket?"
"It's Coloratura's jacket!" River squealed. "Well, it's a replica but still!"
I furrowed my brow. "Oh yeah, the singer."
"She was wearing this for the Souls in the Stars tour last year," she explained. "I saw her in Manehattan, and it was the best night of my life!"
"Rarity must've pulled a lot of strings to get to throw that together," I mused.
"I heard she commissioned Rarity to put a whole line together," River went on. "Apparently her outfits went down really well."
"I'm guessing that's the jacket she wore in Manehattan?" I asked.
"It sure is!" she beamed. Her face fell when she saw the pricetag, which I found myself pursing my lips at as well. "If only I didn't have to put out a second mortgage on my house to get one."
"No kidding," I said. "Must be some expensive material."
"C'est la vie," she sighed, trudging on. But it was my turn to linger at the window. At the jacket.

There's no way I'll have enough for it in time from just some odd jobs. There's gotta be a way to get the scratch quick.

With that to mull over, I trotted to catch up with River, who was chatting with Bon Bon and Lyra.

"Oh, hey Sharp," the former greeted me. "How was Manehattan?"
"Cold and busy," I said. "Probably like every other day."
"No kidding," she snorted. "Glad you made it back out alive."
"Hiiiii, Sharp," Lyra droned, still giving me that weird, wide-eyed grin.
I stepped back. I was never going to get used to that face. "H-hi, Lyra...?"
"Lyra, I've told you about that," her friend said, nudging her.
"Sorry," said Lyra, "force of habit."
"Anywho," River quickly piped in, "you girls still up for tonight?"
"Naturally," Lyra grinned.
"I just about got the night off," added Bon Bon, "so I'm in."
"What's tonight?" I asked.
"Oh, the three of us were just gonna hit the pub for some cider," said River.

I noted the side-eye Bon Bon and Lyra gave each other. That was all I needed.

"Oh, cool," I said, "have fun."
"You can come too, if you want," said Bon Bon. I noted the hint of reluctance in her voice.
"I'm fine, thanks," I assured her. "Don't wanna cramp anypony's style if it's Ladies' Night."
"Phooey," Lyra muttered, and received another nudge from her friend.
"Well, we oughta get back to our shopping," Bon Bon said, she and Lyra walking off. "Later, River. Nice seeing you, Sharp."

We said our goodbyes, and when they were gone, River gave me a smile.
"Look at you, reading the room."
"It's what I'm good at," I said, nodding to my cutie mark. "Getting hints."
"I appreciate it," she said. "Not that I don't like having you around, but y'know, like you said. Ladies' Night."
I waved a hoof. "Don't sweat it. I've got some stuff to do tonight anyway."

When we walked on, I involuntarily glanced down at River's flank. All this time I'd known her, and I never got a proper look at her cutie mark. A cluster of sparkles inside a ring of glittering horseshoes.
"I never asked," I spoke up, "what's your talent?"
"Hm?" She looked at her mark. "Oh, this? I'm pretty good with magic."
"What about the horseshoes?" I asked.
She grinned. "I'm just really lucky. What's yours, by the way?"
"I'm... not entirely sure yet," I said, looking at my magnifying glass, "but I assume it means I'm good at finding stuff or figuring stuff out."
"So you're a detective, huh?" She grinned. "Maybe you could find me a few hundred bits for that jacket."
"If I did find a few hundred bits, I'd put it into my house payment."

And other lies, lover-boy.

"Speaking of gifts, I'd better get to wrapping some," she said. "Make a start before my folks arrive."
"Yeah, same." I rubbed behind my head. "Have fun tonight, by the way."
"Don't be too lonely without me."
"I've got my own plans anyway, but I'll try."

When Rivershine walked off, I took a deep breath. If I wanted to buy her that jacket, I needed a lot of bits and fast.

I dumped my gifts at home and, swallowing my pride, made my way to Barnyard Bargains.

Comments

[StarzGecko]

Story has been nice so far. It’s going to be hard for him to tell Rain he isn’t able to see his family anymore? Man, it’s tough for him… I wonder how he’ll get the shirt from Rarity? Lots of bits on the line

[Unicorncob]

11430557
Thanks
Yeah it's gonna be rough to break it to her

As for the money, well...

[StarzGecko]

11430617
Ah yes, Spike can be used

[Luckyfanisaac]

"C'mon, it'll be fun," River insisted, looking right in my eyes. "I'll show you the ropes.“(——

singing Pudding and Wind Sprint Sitting in a Tree.

[RoshiRat]

Hmm....
Dealing with customers during the holiday rush?
or
Offer to dig up gems for a jacket.

[Unicorncob]

11433714
She doesn't, as far as we know

11433735
*banjo noises*

11433974
I'd personally pick the gems